Brake-shoe



(No Model.)

J. SHAABER.

BRAKE SHOE.

v No. 480,833.

Patented Aug. 16, 1892.

qwi/tweoaao UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB SI-IAABER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRAKE-SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,833, dated August 16, 1892. Application filed December 12, 1891. Serial No. 414,835. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, J ACOB SHAABER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reading, in the county of Berks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvementsin Brake- Shoes, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to that class of brakeshoes in which a friction-block of wood or similar material is used in connection with a metal shoe. Such friction-blocks have been heretofore secured to the shoe between hookshaped ends formed on the latter, which engage corresponding recesses in the blocks. In this manner they are ordinarily retained in position and effect their purpose satisfactorily; but they are liable to be frequently thrown out of service entirely by a break in the block. In order to secure a good wearing-surface, the blocks are preferably sawed so as to present the end grain to the car-wheel. This,however, makes them liable during service to split somewhere between the engaged ends, and very frequently when thus split the parts are worked loose by the constant jarring and entirely escape from the shoe, thus throwing the latter entirely out of service and rendering the brake apparatus utterly unreliable.

The main object of my invention is to provide a simple means of securing the frictionblock to the shoe which will at the same time hold the block in position, even though it may be split into two or more pieces.

The invention is described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and is speeifieally pointed out in the claim.

Figurel is a side elevation of a brake-shoe and friction-block involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a view showing the wearing-face of the block, and Fig.3 is a top end view of the same.

The metal shoe A may be of any preferred construction so far as means for attaching it to the brake-beam are concerned. The friction-block B is made by sawing it out lengthwise across the grain of the wood, so as to present end grain on the curved wearing-surface o The rear face of the block B is preferably a flat surface, which when in position in the shoe rests against the corresponding flat surface a of the latter. The ends of the block fit between overhanging top and bottom flanges a, a, which may project straight out from the body of the shoe, as shown, or be hooked, so as to positively hold the block when pushed into position sidewise. In either case a retaining-wire cis passed downward through holes in the flanges a a and a longitudinal hole b in the block B, located between them, and is provided with a head, which serves to hold it in place and is a means of withdrawing it when desired.

During service it is evident that the breakage most likely to occur to the wooden friction-block would be crosswise of the block and that it might readily occur, for instance, at one or more of the places indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Each piece being strung upon the wire 0 is, however, retained in place, substantially as though the block were unbroken, it being incapable of escape either sidewise or in a forward direction when withdrawn from the Wheel. The block can be worn not only down to the wire, but almost through it, before the latter loses its eifectiveness or the block need be replaced.

Having thus described my invention, I do not limit it to the exact construction shown; but

lVhat I claim is The combination, with the metal shoe having top and bottom flanges a a, of the frictionblock 13, fitted to said shoe between the flanges, and the retaining-wire 0, passed through said flanges and longitudinally through the block, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB SHAABER.

Witnesses:

W. G. STEWART, ED. A. KELLY. 

